Gender distribution of editorial board members in critical care journals: Assessment of gender parity

Abstract

PurposeTo reveal factors related to gender parity on editorial boards of critical care journals indexing in SCI-E. MethodsThe genders were defined according to data obtained from journals' websites between 01—30 September 2022. Publisher properties and journal metrics were analyzed by using Chi-square, Fisher exact, Mann–Whitney U tests, and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Logistic regression analysis was used to reveal independent factors. ResultsWomen's representation on editorial boards was 23.6%. The USA (OR, 0.04, 95% CI, 0.01–0.15, p < 0.001) and Netherlands (OR, 0.04, 95% CI, 0.01–0.16, p < 0.001) as publisher's countries, an IF >5 (OR, 0.25, 95% CI, 0.17–0.38, p < 0.001), publication duration <30 years (OR, 0.09, 95% CI, 0.06–0.12, p < 0.001), multidisciplinary perspective of editorial policy (OR, 0.46, 95% CI, 0.32–0.65, p < 0.001), journals categorized also in nursing (OR, 0.38, 95% CI, 0.22–0.66, p < 0.001), and being a section editor (OR, 0.49, 95% CI, 0.32–0.74, p = 0.001) were associated with gender parity. Europe as a journal continent (OR, 36.71, 95% CI, 8.39–160.53, p < 0.001) was related to gender disparity. ConclusionsFurther efforts are needed to expand diversity policies in critical care medicine.